Chewbaccus! Float Parades vs Walking Parades
January 10, 2024
Chewbacchus Is Coming Up: Let’s talk Float Parades vs Walking Parades
Mardi Gras season in New Orleans brings parades of spectacular floats, flamboyant costumes, lively music provided by marching bands, and streets flooded by flying beads and festive throws. But the parades actually fall into two distinct categories - the well-known float parades held along grand avenues uptown and downtown, and intimate walking parades that meander through various neighborhoods.
Float Parades
The float parades put on by the old-line krewes are what you likely envision when you think of Mardi Gras pageantry - massive, multi-level floats decorated according to annual themes, costumed krewe royalty waving from atop floats, dance teams performing choreographed routines, marching bands blaring brass, and thousands of riders on floats tossing prized beads and plushes to screaming fans craning to catch their attention.
The float parades require intensive coordination to organize each year by the exclusive clubs that put them on for members. Catching their specialty throws and signature medallion doubloons is very competitive among the throngs of spectators that pack the parade routes after saving prime spots all day long.
Walking Parades
In contrast, walking parades like those held by Krewe of Chewbacchus involve participants elaborately dressing up in DIY costumes centered around specific satirical themes selected annually by each sub-krewe. They parade on foot through various neighborhoods alongside small musical bands. Without having towering floats, the walking parades allow for closer interactions.
The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus
Founded in 2010, The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus parade imagines a futuristic universe where sci-fi characters from cult favorites like Star Wars and Star Trek co-mingle during an intergalactic Mardi Gras celebration. Their colorful, DIY costumes and floats envision a bemused Chewbacca serving as the krewe’s “titular figurehead” as they wander from bar to bar spreading nerdy joy through the Marigny and Bywater.
When is Chewbacchus?
The parade takes place on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7 p.m. The date may change considering the Super Bowl will be in New Orleans on February 9th. For more information on the parade, check out: www.mardigrasneworleans.com/parades/krewe-of-chewbacchus.
Should we go?
Yes! It’s a short but really fun parade. While different from the grand float parades later in the season, Chewbaccus is an authentic Mardi Gras parade and has a really nice local vibe.
Should we eat Dinner Before or After Chewbacchus?
Most locals will eat dinner before the parade so they can head to the bars afterwards. But scheduling a 9pm dinner reservation would be a lot of fun: parade → dinner → bars sound like a great night to us!
Come Stay with Us!
Chewbacchus is a great weekend to come to New Orleans! While it’s a relatively new parade, it’s quickly become a favorite among locals. Coming for Chewbaccus weekend gives you the best of both worlds - getting to experience New Orleans while also getting a flavor of Mardi Gras. It’s one of our favorite weekends of the year so come stay with us!
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